Timer for four cylinder outboard motors



Aug. 30, 19%;. Q Q, EWNRUDE 1,874,178

TIIER FOR FOUR-CYLINDER OUTBOARD IOTURS .Filed Jan. 21, 1928 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 IN VEN TOR. OL E v/meuos A TTORNEYS.

A g- 30, 1932- I o. EVINRUDE 1,874,178

TIMER FOR FOUR-CYLINDER OUTBOARD IOTORS Filed Jan. 21, 1928 s Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. OLE Emmy/05 ATTORNEYS- 1932. o. EVINRUDE 1,874,178

TIMER FOR FOUH-CYLINDER OUTBOARD MOTORS Filed Jan. 21. 1928 a sheets-she s 1 73. 5. 6i a, 1 5'2 44 35 3t 6 INVENTOR. OLE EY//Y/?U0 A TTORNEYS.

Patented tag. 30, 1932 UNITED STATES PATENT OFF-ICE OLE EVINRUDE, OF MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN, ASSIGN OR, BY MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, T

' OUTBOARD MOTORS CORPORATION, A CORPORATION OF MICHIGAN TIMER FOR FOUR CYLINDER OUTBOARD MOTORS Application filed January 21, 1928. Serial No. 245,512.

This invention relates in general to ignition timers and more particularly to an ignition timer especially designed and adapted for use with a four cylinder outboard motor.

One object of the invention resides in the provision of an ignition timer of this character which is capable of serving the four cylinders of anoutboard motor so as to obtain smooth and ctlicient high speed operation in either forward or reverse while retaining the essential features of simplicity in construction and durability and dependability in operation.

Another object is to provide a timer of this character and which is adjustable to synchronize the action. of the motor cylinders.

A further object is to provide a timer havin g these advantages and capacities and which has two sets of circuit making and breaking devices operated from a common actuating element which is preferably oscillated and actuates one circuit making and breaking device in each phase of its oscillation thereby enabling the timer to operate at the high speed essential for the development of maximum power and for smooth motor operation and this without setting up any wearing or destructive strains in any of the elements of the timer.

Other objects and advantages reside in certain novel features of the construction. arrangement and combination of parts which will be hereinafter more fully described and particularly pointed outin the appended claims, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification, and in which:

Figure 1 is a view in front elevation showing a portion of a four cylinder outboard motor equipped with a timer embodying the present invention;

FigureQ is a plan view of parts shown in Figure 1, the fly-wheel being broken away and parts being shown in section for the sake of illustration Figure 3 is a fragmentary sectional view taken on line 33 of Figure 2, parts being shown in elevation for the sake of simplicity in illustration;

Figure 4 is a plan view of the timer with the cover of the casin removed and with the actuating element shown in section;

Figure 5 is a fragmentary sectional view taken on line 55 of Figure 4 and illustrating the adjustable mounting of the panel on the casing, parts being shown in elevation for the sake of simplicity in illustration; and

Figure 6 is a diagrammatic view of the electric circuits involved.

Referring to the drawings, the numeral 1 designates generally an outboard motor to which a timer embodying the present invention is applied. The motor has four cylinders designated at E2, 3, 4 and 5 and each cylinder is equipped with a spark plug, the several spark plugs being designated at 6, 7, 8 and 9. The crank shaft of the engine is designated at 10 and, as shown in Figure 3, its upper end portion is fitted in a bushing 11 which lines a bearing 12 provided on the housing of the motor. The bushing projects above the housing as shown. A fiy-wheel 13 is fixed to the extreme upper end. of the crank shaft 10 above the bushing 11.

The time constituting the present invention is designated generally at 15 and includes a casing 16 having an apertured extension 17 rotatahly fitted on the portion of the bushing 11 which projects above the bearing 12. A panel or base plate 18 is fitted on the floor or bottom wall of the casing and at its center this panel has a downwardly extending trunnion 19 wh ch is a snug rotative fit in a flanged opening 2O providedat the center of the casing whereby the panel may be angularly adjusted within the casing. To secure the panel in any angular adjustment, clamping screws 21 are prov ded and extend through arcuate slots 22 formed in the floor of the casing, the inner ends of the screws being threaded into openings provided therefor in the panel. lVashers 23 are provided between the heads of the screws and the under-side of the casing to hold the screws in position and to bind the'screws to the casing. As shown, one such screw and washer assembly is provided adjacent each end of the panel. Of course. the slots 22 are formed on arcs struck from the axis of rotation of the panel as a center.

55 and 46 h On the opposite sides of the center of the panel, two circuit makers and breakers designated generally at C and C are provided.

Though oppositely arranged, these circuit makers and breakers are of identical construction but to facilitate description of the operation the reference numerals a plied to the'circuit maker and breaker will be primed when applied to the corresponding parts of thecircuit maker and breaker C. As shown, thecircuit-makers and breakers C and C include relatively fixed contact points 30 and 30'. The contact points 30 and 30 while fixed in the operative adjustment of the device may be adjusted from time to time,

or in the original assembly, as each is carriedat the outer end of an adjusting screw, theseadjusting screws being designated at 31 and 31, and being threaded into supporting collars 32 and 32 provided therefor on binding posts 33. and 33, the binding posts being secured upon but insulated from the panel by means ofscrews 34 and 34' and insulating washers 35 and 35'. A movable contact is provided in each circuit breaker in cooperative relation to the fixed contact thereof, the movable. contacts being designated at 36 and 36' and being carried by spring blades 37 and 37 respectively, fastened as at 38 and 38' to supporting posts 39 and 39 mechanically and electrically connected to the panel. Spring leaves 40 and 40' are riveted or otherwise suitably fixed to the spring blades 37 and 37, respectively,

and take the impact of projections 41 and 41',

respectively, provided on hammers 42 and 42 pivoted as at 43 and 43 to the panel and when inactive bearing against stops 42 and 42*. These spring leaves and 40 provide 40 a cushion between the hammers 42 and 42' and'the movable contacts 36 and 36' to 'pre- -clude the movable contacts 36 and 36 from striking the fixed contacts 30 and 30 with excessive force. but the free ends 40 and 40 5 of the-leaves 40 and 40' are bent around and engage the free ends of the spring blades to bring thefull resiliency of these parts into play to separate the contacts. Strikers 44 and 44' cooperate with the hammers 42 and 42 and each comprises an elongated bar, the

B0 and 47 being adapted to engage abutments 48 and 48", respectively, in the retracted positions of the strikers. The opposite ends of the strikers are formed with hooks or hooked ends 49 and 49' adapted to engage with teeth 65 50 and 50, respectively, formed in an actuating member 51 by notching the periphery of the same. As shown in Figure 4, the actuating member is interposed between the strikers 44 and 44'. Retractile coil springs 52 and 52' are provided and are connected as at 53 and 53' to the strikers 44 and 44' and anchored as at 54 and 54' on the panel.

The actuating member 51 has its lower cylindrical portion 55 rotatably fitted in the trunnion 19 of the panel which is hollowed and machined to form a bearing for the actuating member. The upper end or head 56 of the actuating member is rotatably fitted in a bearing opening provided therefor in a removable cap or cover plate fastened to the casing by means of screws 61. A web 57 cast integral with the cover plate 60 and partially overlapping its bearing opening coacts with the bottom of the trunnion to preclude axial displacement of the actuating member 51. A crank pin 62 is secured to the head 56 and projects exteriorly of the casing. An arm 63 of an eccentric strap 64 is pivotally connected as at 65 to the crank pin 62. The eccentric strap 64 loosely encircles an eccentric 66 which may be formed on the flywheel, as shown in Figure 3.

When the motor is running the eccentric 66 and its strap 64 operate through the arm 63 and crank pin 62 to oscillate the actuating member 56. In one phase of its oscillation movement, that is, when the actuating member is moved in a counter-clockwise direction, as viewed in Figure 4, its tooth 50 engages the hook 49 of the striker 44 and pulls the striker downwardly and inwardly against the tension of the spring 52. As the actuating member continues to move in a counter-clockwise direction its tooth eventually snaps out of engagement with the hook 49. At the moment of disengagement the hooked end 49 of the striker has advanced into a position opposite the hammer 42 and when the tooth 5O disengages the hook 49 the spring 52 pulls the striker 44 back, around and outwardly with a snap action and causes it to forcibly strike the hammer 42. The blow which the hammer 42 receives is in turn imparted to the contact 36 through the spring leaf 40 and spring blade 37 and causes this contact 36 to momentarily engage the contact.30. thus completing the primary circuit for one pair of cylinders and producing a spark across the gap of the spark plugs of such pair of cylinders. On the return movement of the actuating member, that is. in the other phase of its oscillation and when it is moving in a clockwise direction, as viewed in Figure 4, the tooth 50 coacts with the hook 49 of the striker 44 to cause the striker to hit the han1- mer 42' which in turn forcibly displaces the spring leaf 40' and its spring blade 37' thereby quickly throwing the contacts 36' into momentary engagement with the contact 30. Irrespective of how fast the engine is running,

the contacts always engage with the same force and through the same interval because the springs 52 and 52' supply the force causing engagement of the contacts.

By shifting the timer casing 16 bodily about its pivotal support on the bushing 11 the spark may be advanced or retarded as this changes the relative .position of the eccentric strap 64 and the entire mechanism in the casing 16 with respect to the eccentric 66. This adjustment does not effect the relative time interval between the snapping of the switches but simultaneouslyadvances or retards both with respect to the position of the pistons in the engine. To facilitate this swinging or adjustment of the timer casing a handle 7 5 may be integrally formed with the timer casing and projects well out beyond the fly-wheel.

By mounting the two circuit makers and breakers on a common panel which is adjust able relative to the actuating element the explosions in the cylinders may be synchro nized, that is, they may be made to occur at the proper time in the cycle. This adjustment when once made is maintained by tightening up the screws 21, and it is rare that it need be disturbed. While the timer is adapted for use in various types of ignition circuits it is preferably incorporated in an ignition circuit such as shown in Figure 6, in which a battery is designated at 77. One terminalof the battery connects by a wire 78 with a contact 7 9 of a switch designated generally at 80. This switch is usually mounted on the handle 75, the contact 79 being insulated from the handle 75. The switch 80 also has a contact 81 electrically and mechanically connected to the casing and tensioned or biased to engage the contact 79. Through this switch and the wire 78 one terminal of the battery is grounded on the motor unless the contact 81 is pressed out of engagement with the contact (9. The other pole of the battery is connected by a wire 82 and branches 83 and 84 with the primary windings 85 and 86 of induction coils. The other ends of these coils are connected by wires 87 and 88 to the fixed contacts 30 and 30, respectively. The spring blades 37 and 37 are grounded on the motor, as indicated at 89 and 89. The secondary windings 90 and 91 of the coils each have one end grounded on the motor as indicated at 92 and 93. The opposite ends of these coils connect by wires 94 and 95 with the spark plugs 6 and 7 and 8 and 9, respectively. Of course, the wires 94 and 95 are branched as at 94 and 94 and 95' and 95" to connect with the electrodes of their respective spark plugs. As-usual, each spark plug has one electrode connected with the secondary winding of its coil and has its other electrode grounded on the motor. The switch 80 is utilized to stop the motor by pressing and holding down its movable contact 81 and is also utilized in reversing the .motor by momentarily disengaging the contacts 79 and 81. It is to be understood that explosions occur simultaneously in cylinders .2 and 3 and also simultaneously in cylinders 4 and 5, circuit maker and breaker C conthis high speed the ignition is accurately timed to occur at exactly the right instant with the result that the motor is smooth running and develops the highest speed and efii ciency.

The invention claimed is:

1. A timer having a crank shaft and comprising a casing mounted for oscillating movement about the axis of the crank shaft, two ignition circuit makers and breakers mounted in said casing, an actuating element common to said circuit makers and breakers and alternately cooperable therewith, and an eccentric actuated from the crank shaft and operatively connected to the actuating element for oscillating the same.

2. A timer having a crank shaft and a fi'y-wheel and comprising a casing mounted for oscillatory movement about the axis of the crank shaft, a panel mounted for angular adjustment in the casing about a fixed axis, means for securing a panel in adjusted position, two circuit makers and breakers mounted on said panel on the opposite sides of its center, each circuit maker and breaker including a pair of normally open contacts, and a striker for momentarily closing the contacts, an oscillating actuating element mounted at the axis of the panel and alternately cooperable with the strikers, an eccentric on the fly-wheel, an eccentric strap cooperable with the eccentric and having an arm, and a crank pin on the actuating element pivotally connected to the arm of the eccentric strap.

3. The combination with a rotatable shaft provided with eccentric operating means, of a timer assembly mounted for bodily adj ustment about the axis of said shaft and including an oscillatory actuator crank-connected for operation by said eccentric means,.pairs of contacts, and means operated by said actuator for moving one of the contacts of each pair with respect to the other.

4. The combination with a shaft mounted for rotation and timer operating means operatively connected with said shaft, of a timer assembly bodily adjustable about said shaft and including a contact actuator mounted for oscillation and provided with a crank operatively connected to the actuator by said means, a plurality of pairs of contacts operatively provided with means'for receiv'- ing motion from said actuator and mounted for adjustment with respect to each other and with respect to said actuator, the bodily J movement of said timer about the axis of saidshaft being adapted to vary the timed relation between said shaft and all ofsaid contacts simultaneously andwithout alteringthe timed relation of said contacts with each other or said actuator.

5. T he combination with-arotatable shaft, of an arm pivoted concentrically therewith, timer mechanism mounted on said arm and including an oscillatable actuator and a plu-' rality of contacts arranged to receive motion therefrom, a crank on said oscillator, and means connected with said shaft for'oscilla'te ing said crank in timed relation to the r'otation of the shaft, the adjustment of said arm being adaptedto'vary the timed'relat'ion-f between the shaft and said contact actuator;

6. A timer comprising the combinationf with a rotatable shaft and a casingmounted for bodily movement concentrically there'- 25 with, contact mechanism within said casing including a plurality of pairs of contacts, spring retracted striker means for acting on said mechanism under the predeterminedten sion of said spring, an oscillatory actuator provided with trip means for alternately tensioning said spring and' releasing said striker means, a crank on said actuator,-and' means connected with said shaft for rocking said crank in a timed relation with respect to the movement of said shaft determined in accordance with the angular position of said casing.

7. The combination witha rotatable shaft carrying an eccentric. anda timer support angularly adjustable about the'aXis of said" shaft. of a tinu'r actuator on said support provided with a crank whereby said actuator may be oscillated, a connecting rod between said crank and the eccentric on said shaft for oscillating said actuator in timed relation with the rotation of said shaft as affected by the angular adjustment of said support, a plurality of spring retracted strikers, striker trip means alternately adapted to move the strikers and release them, and pairs of contacts mounted on said support in the path of movement of the respective strikers upon their release.

In witness whereof, I hereto atliX my signature. OLE EVINRUDE. 

